Mayor Chris Beutler and the Lincoln Arts Council (LAC) today released a study
showing that the non-profit arts and culture industry generates more than $36 million
in economic activity every year in Lincoln. Lincoln is one of 156 communities that
participated recently in Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the largest and most
comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted in the U.S. The study was conducted
by Americans for the Arts, the nationís leading non-profit organization for advancing
the arts.

"We know how important the arts are to our quality of life in this community,"
Mayor Beutler said at a news conference at the Lied Center's Johnny Carson Theatre.
"This report confirms that the arts and culture also are an important part of our
local economy. The arts and culture have a significant role in our economic development
efforts. Businesses want to locate in communities that value and foster creativity,
innovation and new ideas. As we look to the future, we need to find ways not just to
sustain our arts community, but to grow it as well."

The $36 million in economic activity generated includes more than $20 million
spent by the organizations and another $15 million spent by audiences. The study
shows that arts and cultural activities support 1,081 full-time equivalent jobs,
providing $22 million in household income and delivering $3 million in local and
state government tax revenue.

"The arts and culture are not luxuries - they are an essential part of the
community, including the business community," said Rich Claussen, Executive Vice
President for Client Services at Bailey Lauerman, who attended the news conference.
"The arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive and grow."

The LAC was the local partner in implementing the study. LAC Executive Director
Deb Weber thanked Woods Charitable Fund, Inc. for funding the local effort. She
said the study showed that 81 percent of the 1,285,642 event attendees were
Lincoln residents.

"The 19 percent of attendees who came from outside of Lincoln spent three
times more than the local patrons, generally for lodging, meals and transportation,"
said Weber. "Local patrons are the base, but arts and cultural tourism is a
major area of potential growth."